Chapter 35
“Te extraño mi amor (I miss you, my love),” Fermin murmured over the phone while imela stared cent she
window at the sun rising.
He had called because he thought she would already be awake. On a typical morning, she would not orill be in bed at seven o’clock, but today was a sleep in day, or, in other words, a lazy day. She was still in bed, but she wasn’t sleeping. He asked if he had woken her, to which she said no and asked why he called. His reply was honest, and she expected it.
“I know you do,” she replied cockily.
He paused, and she knew what was coming next. “You do not miss me, do you?”
Her eyes crinkled at the corner cheerfully, and a laugh left her mouth. She always gets him every time.
“Of course, I miss you.”
“Entonces, ¿por qué no lo dijiste? (Then why didn’t you say it back?)” he asked.
The rays of the early morning sun flickered over her face, making her smile. “Because this is better. You being dramatic as always makes my morning a little better.”
He growled over the phone, “It’s been a week; am I not allowed to miss you and be missed back?”
“You are allowed to, and I miss you. I wish you were here with me most days,” she revealed, and the line
went silent.
“Ojalá estuvieras aquí también (I wish you were here too).” He replied, sounding a little desperate. “Got any plans for the day?”
She returned to bed and threw herself onto it. “Not really, lazy Saturday.”
“Oof, I would have loved a lazy Saturday when all I do is snuggle in bed next to you, mi amor.” He
murmured, but she heard it.
She didn’t want to think about those moments because she would want to relieve them. He was in
Madrid, and so there was no relieving.
“Dónde estás (where are you)?” she asked, curious.
“Campo de Golf (the golf course).” He replied. “A group of friends of mine wanted to head out.”
The door opened, and in came the still–sleepy Ocean.
12:13
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Since Grandpa isn’t here, who better to disturb than Mama?
He got to the bed and climbed on top.
“I’ve got to go; Ocean just came in,” she informed Fermín.
Okay, I’ve got to get back to the game too. Say ‘hi‘ to him for me. I love you.”
“I will, I know, and I love you too,” she answered and ended the call.
Her lazy mornings were over because Ocean was here, and he wasn’t the quietest baby. Ocean was still learning the English language, but for a three–year–old, he was doing so well. Marcel had only spoken Spanish to his grandson for the past two years, and the only time he spoke English was when she was at home, which was not very often.
“Como estás? (How are you)?”
“Rien, mama, Cómo estás (How are you?)”
“I’m fine too. Did you sleep well?” She asked in English.
He nodded and rubbed his face slowly. “Yes, mamá.” He answered.
“Good. Mama has a few things to do today,” she said, kissing his cheek while they both lay in bed.
Imela stood, staring at the multi–purpose beauty empire before her with the name Stop. It wasn’t her first time seeing it; she had done enough research on the ins and outs of the company, but it was her first time seeing it in person. It was so much better than she expected, and that made it all better.
Cecil always had good taste–that was one thing she loved about her ex–friend.
She stepped forward to ensure the inside was as good as the outside when the door opened, and out walked the very person she came to see.
Cecil Reid.
Her old friend looked the same as in the pictures she had seen of her. Red hair and striking amber eyes that looked like they couldn’t harm a fly.
The years had been most generous with her. Too generous for a backstabbing bitch. She thought.
Cecil froze on her step as she stared at her, and for a moment, it felt as if she saw a ghost. She turned white, and her eyes flickered with fear. It was priceless. She probably heard the news of her disappearance and wished she had stayed gone. That way, there would be no more contest for Oliver. It
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was always about him.
The surprise on her face now tells her Oliver didn’t tell her about her return, and if he didn’t tell her that, he didn’t tell her she would be working with the Plane’s enterprise in the next few months. Oliver left poor Cecil in the dark about everything.
“Imela.” Her tiny voice came through even as she tried to control her overwhelming surprise.
“Cecil,” she answered.
She opened her mouth to speak but shut it, and she looked to be struggling for words to say. “Imela. How are you here?”
“Hell was full, so they sent me back,” she answered without emotion.
Cecil turned around to see if anyone was coming before stepping towards her. “Look, I am sorry for how things turned out between us. I wish it were different.”
Imela didn’t believe her; only a fool would.
“I do not wish things were different. I am glad things turned out the way they did because there you are, and here I am,” she replied, repeating the words she told Oliver days ago at his company.
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Cecil looked lost at her words as she reasoned through everything she said. She tried to take her hand, but Imela held it up, irritated by the thought of being touched by her.
Her hands dropped, and she fidgeted with them. “You were my friend.”
Imela rolled her eyes. “We both know that’s a lie, and poor Oliver isn’t here to buy this act, so you can stop the charade now. You wanted Oliver, and you painted me the villain to get him.”
There was no joy in fighting someone weak. She needed them strong and at their best so she could tear
them down.
Cecil pressed her lips together, and the helpless and calm look she had had on her face since she saw her vanished. A new look came on, and this one was calm and calculated.
Cecil finally stared at her as if she were the enemy. “I should have had him from the very beginning, but you stepped in my way. I got him because I am the smarter one who deserved him, and he loves me now. We are stronger than ever, and we are getting married soon. Coming back from death will not change that. You were his past, and I am his present and future.”
Imela smiled–genuinely smiled–and it was because of how pathetic Cecil sounded; she had gone all this length for a man.
She always thought Cecil was smarter and wanted more for herself and her life, but she just wanted a
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man’s attention and approval, She betrayed her for a man.
Imela took a step and came face to face with her. “If you two are stronger than ever, as you date, why were you surprised to see me a few minutes ago? Why didn’t your flance tell you I had been track for over
a week?”
She didn’t mean to go low, but she wanted Cecil to see what her present and future would look like wah
her around now.
Cecil’s eyes narrowed a little at her words. At first, she didn’t seem to believe it, but then it dawned on her.
Anger flared in Cecil’s eyes, and Imela couldn’t help the smirk on her face.
“I’m glad you see the truth now; I am glad you see that your fiancé might not really be your fiancé after all. Send my regards to your lover and tell him I’ll see him on Monday.” With that said, she turned away from Cecil and walked back to her waiting car,
She had wanted to see the inside of Stop. There is no loss, as she will see it when it becomes hers.
